| Founded | 1902 |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Dan Albone |
| Defunct | 1921 |
| Headquarters | Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England |
| Products | agriculture machinery tractor |
Copy of old Ivel advert in a newspaper
The Ivel company of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England was founded in 1902 and started building tractors in 1903. The company was started by Dan Albone a Champion Bicyclist, after he obtained a patent for mounted implements, powered off the tractor by use of a pioneering power take off, (P.T.O.). The company is named after the River Ivel in Bedfordshire. The company built a 3 wheeled lightweight tractor powered by a 2 cylinder gasoline engine of 8 hp (6.0 kW), that sold for £300, a considerable sum in the 1900s.
The company continued building tractors to a virtually unchanged design till 1921, when it ceased trading, but Dan Albone suffered a premature death in 1906. The company imported Hart-Parr models into the Britain during WW I.
The tractors were exported to over 20 countries around the world.
Preservation[]
One Ivel tractor, AO 385, has been restored to full working order by John Moffit and it under took a road run from Lands End to John O'Groats for charity.
The tractor is featured in the book - The Ivel Story by John Moffitt published by Japonica Press, ISBN 0-9540222-6-2.
Events[]
Some of the events tractor AO 385 has been exhibited at include;
- Newby Hall Vintage Gathering 2009
- Little Casterton Working weekend 2009
- Carrington Steam and Tractor Rally 2009
Pictures of the Ivel[]
The Famous Ivel Tractor no. 131 of 1903 formerly in the John Moffitt collection on display at a wet Newby Hall Vintage Gathering 2009
The Ivel working at Little Casterton 2009
Other surviving tractors[]
please add details of any other surviving examples here.
Reference[]
Classic Tractors of the World, By Nick Baldwin ISBN 0-89658-394-5
External links[]
